I  admit the needle on my internal sleep gauge is often pointing at "sleep deficiency." A new study from the University of Warwick and published in the Annals of Epidemiology journal is the latest to find a link between lack of sleep and diabetes.

Those of us with Type 2 diabetes are told to concentrate on the big three--diet, exercise, and medications. If we have these covered, we should be fine. Right? At least, that's how it would work in a perfect world.

How often have you been diligent about the "big three" only to struggle with the numbers that your glucometer spits out? How often have you had your day ruined by a high A1c test when you were expecting a good number? I'm wildly waving my hand.

This study found a link between sleep and developing diabetes or pre-diabetes. However, studies like these should be of value to those of us already with diabetes because they reveal how complicated this disease is and how we need to think of management in broader terms.

We are complicated biological creatures. Diabetes is influenced by various hormonal systems which are in turn influenced by all sorts of stimuli. There is a need to look at ourselves in a holistic way and care for ourselves. In other words, we need to consider our bodies, minds, emotions, lives, stressors, environment - the list could go on.

According to the study, getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night increases the likelihood of developing diabetes and heart disease. The researchers looked at data from 1,455 participants over six years. Less sleep increased the risk of incident-impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) which is a pre-diabetic condition. The risk was tripled.

Lack of sleep could affect glucose metabolism, stimulate appetite, decrease glucose tolerance, and increase production of the stress hormone cortisol.

I'm sure, if you are like me, getting sleep may not be easy. It can be complicated by things ranging from lack of time to sleep apnea. Need help to get a better night's sleep? Check out the Top 10 Ways to Get a Better Night's Sleep and Overview of Common Sleep Disorders.

Take the time to to find answers to get the sleep you need. You're worth it.

I recently lost my phone. I not only lost a "phone" but also the applications that made my life easier. Gone were my calorie counter, weather tracker, exercise programs and social network feeds.

I replaced it with a more advanced smartphone. I discovered apps have become more sophisticated. This phone can be pointed at the sky and tell me what stars or constellations I'm looking at. Mind boggling!

I found some diabetes apps that work like a paperless blood glucose log with graphs and easy ways to share my levels. I still have to test my blood and then enter the information.

However, what if I didn't have to test my blood? What if my phone could tell me what my blood glucose level is 24/7 or what if I am caring for a child with diabetes and my phone could alert me to levels that need attention. Impossible? Maybe not.

A study published in ScienceTranslational Medicine looks like the first step. Small sensors were implanted into two pigs that continuously detected glucose levels for over a year. Blood glucose levels were wirelessly sent to a receiver successfully.

David Gough, a bioengineering professor who led the study, has said human trials may begin within a few months and the device may be able to send signals to cell phones in the future.

What do you think? Would you have a wireless device implanted in your body to avoid finger pricks?

According to the New York Times' live blogging from the F.D.A. hearing on Avandia, the votes are in and it's not looking good for GlaxoSmithKline.

Of the 33 members of the committee, only three voted in favor of keeping Avandia on the market as is. Seven advocated adding more warnings on the drug; ten votes went to restricting its sale or making significant revisions to the label, and twelve committee members voted to take Avandia off the market altogether. The F.D.A. will make a final decision "at a later date."

A New York Times article published today makes the scandalous revelation that SmithKline Beecham (now called GlaxoSmithKline) conducted a study on its new diabetes drug, Avandia, in 1999, and has been working to hide the findings from the public for the past 11 years.

The 1999 study found that Avandia was not only no more effective than its competitor, Actos, but also that it presented more risks of heart attack and stroke. The Times published the following excerpt from an email written in 2001 by SmithKline executive Dr. Martin I. Freed:

"This was done for the U.S. business, way under the radar. Per Sr. Mgmt request, these data should not see the light of day to anyone outside of GSK."

To make matters worse, it seems that Dr. John Jenkins, head of the F.D.A.'s office of new drugs, has been rooting for Avandia, speaking out against taking it off the market, and "disciplining" an employee who recommended that the health warnings be strengthened for Avandia.